Tulsa Mayoral Candidates Sound Off On Crime

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Voters often mention public safety as a top priority in elections. Tulsa's candidates for mayor all say it's a big part of the job.

So how will they handle law enforcement? Whoever wins the mayor's race will have to deal with crime and they'll have to do it on a tight budget.

All three of the candidates say reducing crime is an important goal for the next mayor of Tulsa.

"I think the officers do a great job, as always. I think there's some management aspects we could improve on," said Mark Perkins, (I) mayoral candidate.

Independent Mark Perkins says he believes crime can be cut by leaning more on technology, but at the same time, believes the police department needs more people.

"Over the longer term, I'd like to see more presence in the neighborhoods, some community involvement with the citizens that can develop trust. Because I think it will help deter crime, just the presence, and it will help solve crime with the intelligence from the community," said Mark Perkins.

Republican Dewey Bartlett says the next mayor has to somehow find more money for the police department.

"We have to find a serious amount of money in order to keep and add to the number of police officers on the streets and then get to the helicopters and all that sort of thing that assists in law enforcement," said Dewey Bartlett, (R) mayoral candidate.

Bartlett says he wouldn't try to run the police department unless he felt they weren't doing a good job addressing crime.

"I think they're doing a good job, I do. From what I gather, yes. Now are they being supplied with all the opportunities they need? That I don't know," said Dewey Bartlett.

Bartlett and Perkins say the city needs to spend more on Tulsa Police.

Bartlett believes the money can be saved elsewhere in the budget, while Perkins believes the city should find another source besides sales taxes to stabilize funding.

The News On 6 asked for an interview with Democrat Tom Adelson, but was told he was unavailable for the next several days.

Adelson, Bartlett and Perkins have more on how they'll handle crime on their web sites:

Adelson For Mayor | Dewey Bartlett - Tulsa Mayor | Mark Perkins For Mayor

11/2/2009  Related Story: Tulsa's Mayoral Candidates Explain Their Positions